Southwest Indian Jewelry: Buttons and Conchas

Southwestern Indians have been using shell and stone to make jewelry since prehistoric times. After the arrival of the Spanish, they added silver to the materials they used. Fine examples of older jewelry are available at the gallery, including necklaces made of shell and stone from Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Zuni turquoise cluster work and Navajo silver cuffs and earrings. Most of the jewelry dates from the time period just after the Second World War.